|
Training U.S. NOAA and College=
of
Charleston Coral pathology is a growing i=
nterest
since its recognition as an important tool in coral conservation.
Corals are dying from infectious diseases and toxicities associated with
pollution. In order to mitigate declines in coral populations, the
pathologies experienced by corals need to be understood. Functional pathology is =
the
study of the decrease in the performance of a specific organ, tissue, or
metabolic pathway. In human and vetinerary medicice, clinical
diagnostic assays or “biomarkers” are often used to gauge the
condition of a functional process. For example, cardiac troponin I
found in the blood stream is an indication of damage to heart tissue.&nbs=
p;
Heart cells are damaged, break open, and release the troponin I protein i=
nto
the blood stream. The more troponin there is in the blood stream, t=
he
more damage to the heart. In the same way, coral
biologists are developing and using markers that reflect the condition of
different aspects of coral physiology and cellular physiology. Chan=
ges
in a biomarker are indicative of changes in a functional pathway.<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-farea=
st-font-family:
"Times New Roman"'> Haereticus was given the
opportunity to train two laboratories (College of Charleston and U.S.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in conducting several ty=
pes
of biomarker assays on a species of coral obtained from the Bahamas.
The coral, Porites asteroides, was inspected for possible sponge and
endolithic algae contamination (Figure 1). The coral tissue was exc=
ised
from these contaminants (Figure 2) and ground to a frozen powder in a mor=
tar
and pestle that has been chilled with liquid nitrogen (Figure 3).
Sample was extracted using different buffers (Figure 4) and assayed for
uroporphyrin content, an important biomarker that is indicative of adverse
function of porphyrin synthesis pathway. Porphyrins are important
components of hemoglobin and cytochromes. This training was conducted at=
the
Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dr.
Cheryl Woodley of U.S. NOAA supervising |
Professor
Phil Dustan of the College of Charleston
Excision
of coral tissue from skeleton
Cryo-pulverization
of coral tissue
Liquid
extraction of the sample for assay method |
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/DSCN2664.JPG"](3D"TrainingU_files/image002.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/Phil%20Dustan.jpg"](3D"TrainingU_files/image004.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/DSCN2647.JPG"](3D"TrainingU_files/image006.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/DSCN2640.JPG"](3D"TrainingU_files/image008.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/DSCN2701%20pipetting%20sample.jpg"](3D"TrainingU_files/image010.jpg")